Happy April Fools, but this ain’t no joke dear Operatives!

Fans of Tuscany know the name Soldera all too well. It is, after all, the only 100% pure Sangiovese in the world that commands $500-1,000 a bottle. What if we told you, that the same exact winemaking legacy and equally pampered vineyards went into today’s sub-$30 offering? Tenuta di Bibbiano is the highest rated producer from this neck of the woods in the legendary 2015 vintage by the Wine Spectator for a reason, but hush please, keep the secret between us while you snap this one up quietly. There just isn’t enough to go around.

This Tuscan treasure boasts a bright ruby with excellent consistency of color throughout. The nose is full of an approachable blend of pepper spice with bramble, cherry compote, pipe tobacco, and sandalwood. After sipping, delicate flavors of pomegranate, cranberry, and cherry, meet red earth and subtle leather. Elegantly structured throughout, the immediate burst of the bright acidity at the front of the palate spreads out languidly as it rolls towards a tapered finish. Aged hard cheeses, or roasted game birds with a honey balsamic glaze and mushrooms.

Now, how about the Gran Selezione bit? That’s “grand selection” in plain ole English, for the most recent frontier in Italian wine law, an above all else category created to elevate the greatest estate vineyards only. Very few wineries have the means to achieve this caliber, and you’re looking at one. To put it into perspective, while highly sought after Riserva wines make up for about 25% of the total production, Gran Selezione is only about 4%. What you are looking at here is a needle in the haystack, drinking like it’s missing a zero at this quality level.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

95 Points, Highly Recommended! – Wine Spectator - “Bibbiano has been focused on identifying all the different soils and sub-zones of its 74-acre estate, which occupies two hillsides in Castellina in Chianti. This approach reflects the growing trend in Chianti Classico toward emphasizing vineyard-based Sangiovese rather than the aging categories currently defining the region’s wines. Proprietor Tommaso Marrocchesi Marzi is now working with Maurizio Castelli to achieve greater precision in the winemaking. The 2015 vintage may be their breakout year. Relaxed, balanced and supported by dense tannins, this touts aromas of leather, tobacco, wood paneling, iron, woodsy spices and smoky cherry fruit, with a finish that is long and expansive. 500 cases imported. Drink now through 2040.”